Retort charging machine



June 8, 1943. J. E. SCOUTEN RETORT CHARGING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1941 6 sheets sheet l June 8, 1943. J. E. SCOUTEN 2,321,526

RE'IORT CHARGING MACHINE June 8, 1943. J. E. SCOUTEN 2,321

RETORT CHARGING MACHINE Filed Aprii 16, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet s L QMMvbO 24 Zen V June 1943- J. E. SCOUTEN' 2,321,526

RETORT' CHARGING MACHINE Filed April '16, 1941 6 Sheets- Sheet 4.

[Z15oauin June 8, 1943. J scou 2,321,526

RETORT CHARGING MACHINE is i ritflficouzen June 8, 1943. J. E. SCOUTEN 2,321,526

Filed April 16, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 56 53 f0 5'4- 9: f/ if 71' 7.2

Patented June 8, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RETORT CHARGING IWACHINE Jess E. Scouten, Medford, kla., assignor to Thomas P. Morrison, Blackwell, Okla.

Application April 16, 1941, Serial No. 388,897

Claims. (01. 214-18) This invention relates to charging machines for zinc retorts or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a charging machine including a pair of charging elements and means for raising or lowering the elements whereby they may be aligned with the retorts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a retort charging machine including a carriage, a pair of conveyors, a hopper movable with the conveyors and the carriage and an elevator for maintaining the hopper substantially filled.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a retort charging machine a pair of conveyors-with a vertically adjustable carrier means for each and so that the conveyors may be disposed on the desired angle relative to the retorts.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a retort charging machine a conveyor or charging screw which is formed in a plurality of universally connected sections, and a tubular housing about the conveyor, the housing also being formed of a plurality of universally connected sections, so that the forward or charging end of the conveyor may engage in a retort irrespective of the variation in the angle between the retort and the conveyor.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a charger a movable hopper having a pair of charging conveyors extending therefrom and means in the hopper for feeding the material to the conveyors.

A further object of this invention is to provide a retort charger of this kind which includes a pair of charging members and means for raising or lowering said members so that selected pairs of retorts may be charged in one operation.

To the foregoing objects and to others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention,- but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a retort charging machine constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detail top plan of. the machine.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken vertically through the machine,

Figure 4 is a detail rear elevation partly broken away and in section of the machine,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1,

Figure -7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 3,

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 1,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken through a portion of one of the charging elements, and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view through the lower portion of the movable hopper showing the means for moving the hopper lengthwise of the frame.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral [5 des ignates generally a substantially rectangular frame structure which is provided with pairs of wheels [6, which are carried by axles ll extending between the front and rear frame members I8 and I9 respectively. The frame members is and I9 are connectedtogether at their opposite ends by end frame members 20 and 2|. The wheels I6 are of'the flanged type and are adapted to engage a pair of parallel rails 22, which are disposed along the front ends of the retorts, so

that the frame structure I5 may be moved relative to the retorts in order to position the frame structure l5 in confronting relation with respect'to the selected series of superposed retorts.

The movable frame structure l5 has secured thereto a pair of parallel beams or frame mem- 3 bers 23, which are secured to the front and rear frame members 18 and I9 and project forwardly and rearwardly from the frame members l8 and I 9, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The beams or supporting members 23 each have secured to the forward portions thereof upright frame members generally designated as 24. The upright frame members 24 each comprise a pair of vertically disposed guide members 25, which are secured, as at 26, to the beams 23 and the upper ends of the uprights 25 are connected together by an upper bar or rail 21. The two front frame members 24 are connected together by means of connecting bars 28 and 28, which engage the rear and front portions of the frame members 24.

A rear upright frame structure generally designated as 30 is secured to and extends upwardly from the'beams or supporting members 23 and comprises a pair of vertical frame members 3|, which are secured, as at32, to the beams 23 and are braced by angled bracing members 33 secured to the beams 23 and the uprights 3| at a point upwardly from the lower ends thereof. The uprights 3i at the upper ends are connected together by a connecting bar 34.

A vertically movable charger supporting carriage generally designated as 35 is slidably carried by the frame members 24 and includes a pair of vertically disposed carriage members 36 and 31, which are connected together at their upper ends by connecting bar 35. A plurality of connecting plates 39, 46 and 4| are also connected between the uprights 36 and 31 and operate to maintain the uprights 36 and 31 in parallel relation. A pair of forwardly extending slide members 42 are secured to the forward uprights 36 and a lower forward pair of slide members 43 are secured to the uprights 36 and engage on opposite sides of the vertical guide members 25 at the forward portions of the front frame members 24. A pair of rearwardly extending plates or slide members 44 are secured to the upper portions of the rear uprights 31 and a lower pair of slide plates 45 are secured to the lower portions of the uprights 31 and engage on opposite sides of the rear frame members 25, so that the carriage 35 may freely be moved vertically within the front frame structure 2 1. In practice there are two of these carriages 35 on opposite sides of the front vertical frame structure 24, which are simultaneously movable in the vertical frame members 25, as shown in Figure 7.

The two charger supporting carriages 35 are adapted to be vertically moved and disposed in a selected vertical position within the frame structure 2 1 by means of a pair of cables 46 and 41, which have one end thereof secured to plates 48 and 49 respectively. The plates 48 and 49 are secured to the upper frame members 38. The cables or flexible members 46 and 41 are wound about winding drums 50 and respectively, which are fixed to a winding shaft 52. The shaft 52 is journalled in bearings 53 and 54 which are secured to the upper frame members 21. A sprocket 55 is fixed to the shaft 52 and a chain or flexible driving member 56 is trained about the sprocket 55. A reversible electric motor 51 is mounted on the upper end of the frame structure 2% and has a sprocket 58 secured to the shaft 59 thereof. The sprocket 58 engages the chain or driving member 56 so that the winding drums 56 and 5| may be rotated in the desired direction to either raise or lower the frame members 35.

A charger supporting shaft 66 is journalled between the two plates 39, as shown in Figure '7, and has secured thereto a roller 6| having a concave charger engaging peripheral surface 62. A second charger supporting shaft 63 is journalled in the lower connecting plates 4| and has fixed thereto a charger supporting roller 64 having a concave charger engaging surface 65. A pair of rails 66 are pivotally connected at their front ends, as at 61, to the lower portion of the rear carriage frame members 31 and the rear ends of the rails 66 are pivotally connected, as at 68, to a rear vertically movable carriage, generally designated as 69. The rear carriage 69 includes a pair of vertical frame members 10, which are provided with vertically disposed pairs of spaced apart slide members H and 12, which engage on opposite sides of the rear uprights 3|. rear uprights 3i constitute guide members for the rear carriage 69. Therear carriage 69 is vertically adjusted relative to the rear guide members 3;! by means of a pair of carriage raising The or lowering flexible members 13 and 14, which have an end thereof secured as at 15 and'16 to eyes carried by the side rails 16 of the carriage 69.

The flexible members 13 and 16 are wound about winding drums 11 and 13, which are fixed to a winding shaft 19. The shaft 19 is journalled in bearings 36 and BI carried by the connecting bar 34 and a sprocket 82 is fixed to the winding shaft 19. A flexible drive member 83 in the form of a chain is trained about the sprocket 32 and also about a motor sprocket or drive member 86 fixed to a motor shaft 85. The shaft 85 is connected with a reversible eiectric motor 86 supported by a bracket 61 extending rearwardly from the connecting member 36. In practice the rails 66 are disposed on an inclination to the horizontal as shown in Figure 1, this inclination being substantially the same inclination as the inclination of the retorts.

A charging carriage generally designated as 88 is movably mounted on the rails 66 and includes a pair of side carriage members 89 which have secured thereto wheels 90 journalled on shafts iii. The carriage 83 also includes a pair of uprights 92 fixed at their lower ends to the lower carriage members 8% and the uprights 92 are connected together by means of connecting plates 93 and S4. A charging hopper generally designated as 65 has the rear wall96 thereof secured to the uprights 92 by fastening devices 91 and the hopper 65 also includes a pair of downwardly convergent bottom walls 98 and 69, which are connected at their lower or convergent ends to a U-shaped trough H36 extending transversely of the carriage B3.

The carriage 88 including the hopper is adapted to be moved lengthwise of the rails 65 by means of a carriage moving chain IGI. The chain 56! has one end thereof secured to the front wall 532 of the hopper 95, as at I63, and another end of the chain It is secured, as at I c4, to the rear wall 96 of the hopper 95. The chain IBI is trained about a forward sprocket I65 which is fixed to a forward sprocket shaft I516. The shaft I66 is journalled in the plates 56 carried by the two vertically movable carriage members 35. In practice there are two of these chains I66 as shown in Figure 2 and two sprockets I65 on the forward shaft I66. The upper run of the chain IliI extends through the walls 96 and I02 of the hopper 95 and preferably a tubular guide member I61 is connected between the two walls 96 and 562 of the hopper 95 through which the upper run of the chain Ilil loosely engages. It will be understood that there are two of these tubular guide members I61 as shown in Figure 2. The two chains I 6!) at their rear portions are trained about rear sprockets 168, which are fixed to a hopper moving shaft I69.

The shaft I63 is journalled in bearings I I6 fixed to the rear carriage member 69. A driving sprocket III is fixed to the shaft I09 and has a flexible driving member I I2 in the form of a chain trained thereabout. The chain I I2 is also trained about a driving sprocket II3 carried by a shaft -II4 connected with a reversible motor H5. The

motor H5 is supported in rearwardly extended relation with respect to the vertically movable carriage 69 by means of a motor supporting bracket H6. The bracket H6 is fixed to one of the side frame members 16, as shown in Figure 4. The hopper 65 is provided with an upwardly flared upper end portion H1 and the hopper 95 is adapted to be substantially filled with the ore during the charging operation.

A lower charging tube or conveyor housing generally designated as H is fixedly connected at its rear end to the lower connecting plate 94. The tube or housing I18 is formed with a rear stationary tubular section II9, an intermediate tubular section I and a forward tubular section I2I. The rear section H9 is connected with the intermediate section I20 by means of a universal connection I22 so that the intermediate section I20 may be disposed at a selected angle with respect to the rear section I I9. The forward tubular member I2I is connected at its rear end to the forward end of the intermediate tubular member or section I20 by means of a universal connection I23. The rear tubular member II9 extends beneath the trough or guide member I00 and is provided with an openin I24 in its upper side which communicates with the interior of the trough or guide member I00. In this manner the material in the trough I90 will move downwardly into the opening I24 and will be discharged into the rear tubular member II9. A screw conveyor structure generally designated as I25 is rotatably mounted in the lower tube or housing structure H9 and comprises a rear rotatable screw conveyor member I26, which is rotatable in the stationary tubular member H9. The shaft I21 forming part of the conveyor I26 extends through.

a cap or bearing I 28 at the rear end of th tubuconveyor member I26 by a universal connectlon I30.

The connection I30 is disposed within the universal connection I22. the latter connection being of a hollow construction. A forward screw conveyor I3I is rotatably disposed in the forward tubular section I2I and is connected at its rear end to the forward end of the intermediate conveyor I29 by means of a universal connection I32 disposed within the hollow universal connection I23. A sprocket I33 is fixed to the shaft I21 rearwardly of the cap or bearing I28, and a flex ible drive member I34 is trained about the sprocket I33. A driving sprocket I35 carried by a motor shaft I36 also engages the chain or drive member I34 and the shaft I 36 is operated by a motor I31. The motor I31 is supported between the uprights 92 by an L-shaped motor supporting member I38.

An upper conveyor housing generally designated as I39 is disposed in substantially parallel relation with the lower conveyor housing I I8 and includes a rear conveyor section or member I40, an intermediate conveyor section or housing MI and a forward conveyor housing or section I42. The rear conveyor housing I40 extends through the walls 96 and I02 of the hopper 95 and is also fixed to the supporting plate 93. A transversely disposed upper trough I43 is secured between the end walls I44 and I45 of the hopper 95 and is provided with a pair of upwardly divergent walls I46. The trough I43 is provided with an opening I41 in the lower portion thereof communicating with the conveyor housing I 40, so that material from the trough I43 will be dischargedinto the rear stationary housing I40.

The intermediate conveyor housing MI is connected with the rear conveyor housing I40 by means of a universal coupling I48 and the forward conveyor housing I42 is connected with the sal forward end of the intermediate conveyor housing I M by a universal coupling I49.

- A screw conveyor structure generally designated as I50 is rotatably mounted in the housing I 39 and includes a rear screw conveyor member I5I rotatable in the stationary housing member I40. The shaft I52 of the rear conveyor member I5I is journalled through a cap or bearing member I53 carried by the rear end of the housing member I40. The conveyor structure I50 also includes an intermediate screw conveyor I54, which is connected with the forward end of the rear conveyor I5I by means of a universal connection I55. A forward screw conveyor I56 is rotatable in the forward housing I42 and is connected at its rear end with the forward end of the intermediate conveyor I54 by means of a universal coupling I51. The universal couplings I55 and I51 are disposed interiorly of the hollow universal coupling members I48 and [49 respectively. The shaft I52 has fixed thereto av sprocket I58 about which a flexible drive member I59 is trained. The chain or drive member I59 is also trained about a second sprocket I60 mounted on the motor shaft I36.

The trough I00 at the lower portion of the hopper 95 has rotatably mounted therein a screw conveyor structure generally designated as I6 I. The conveyor structure I 6| comprises a pair of reversely pitched conveyor members I62 and I63 mounted on the common conveyor shaft I64. The inner or confronting ends of the reversely pitched conveyor members I62 and I63 are spaced apart and.are disposed adjacent the discharge opening I24 which opens into the lower conveyor housing I I9. The opposite ends of the conveyor shaft I64 are iournalled in bearings I65 and I66 carried by the end walls I44 and I45 of the hopper respectively. An upper conveyor structure generally designated as I61 is rotatably mounted in the upper trough I43 and comprises a pair of re versely pitched conveyor members I68 and I69 mounted on a common conveyor shaft I10. The confronting ends of the conveyor members I68 and I69 are spaced apart as shown in Figure 5 and extend from the discharge opening I41 communicating with the rear conveyor housing member I40.

The opposite ends of the conveyor shaft I10 are journalled in bearings HI and I12 carried by the hopper end walls I44 and I45 respectively. The shaft I10 at one end thereof has secured thereto a sprocket I13 about which a chain I14 is trained. The conveyor shaft I64 also has fixed thereto a sprocket I15, about which the chain I14 engages so that the two conveyors I6! and I61 may rotate as a unit. The shaft I 19 also has fixed thereto a second sprocket I16 about which a chain I11 is trained. The chain I11 is also trained about a sprocket I18 carried by a shaft I19. The shaft I19 is journalled in a bearing I80, which is carried by an L-shaped supporting arm I8I. The shaft I19 also has fixed thereto a bevelled gear I82, which is adapted to mesh with a second bevelled gear 63 carried by a shaft I84.

The shaft I84 is journalled in a bearing I85, which is carried by an L-shaped bearing supporting member I86. The bearing supporting member I36 is fixed, as at I81, to the rear wall 96 of the hopper 95 adjacent the upper portion thereof. The shaft I84 has fixed thereto a sprocket I88 about which a chain I89 is trained. The chain I89 also engages about a sprocket I90, which is fixed to the conveyor shaft I52. In this manner the conveyors I25 and I56 will rotate as a unitwith the charging conveyors Ifil and I51.

In order to provide. a means whereby the hopper 95 may be maintained in a substantially filled condition, I have provided an elevator structure generally designated as I9I. The elevator structure IQI includes a substantially vertical or upright conveyor housing Hi2 connected with the upper end thereof a downwardly and inwardly inclined material guiding member m3. The material guiding member I93 is adapted to overlie the upper end of the hopper 95 so that the material elevated in the housing I92 will drop downwardly into the hopper 95. The conveyor or elevator housing I92 has movably mounted there in an endless conveyor structure including an endless belt I94 which is trained about a lower drum I95 and an upper drum I96.

The lower drum I95 is fixed to a shaft I91, shown in Figure 2. which at one end thereof is provided with a bevelled gear I98. The upper drum I95 is secured to an upper shaft I99 journalled in the upper portion of the housing I92. The belt or endless member I94 has fixed thereto a plurality of spaced apart transversel extending cleats or carrier members 200 so that as the belt I9 1 is moved in the housing I92 the material will be elevated by the cleats or carrier members see and discharged into the guide member I93. The lower end portion of the elevator housing I52 has secured thereto a laterally extending and upwardly opening hopper ZIJI into which the material is adapted to be discharged. The lower end of the conveyor structure including the belt ISA and the cleats 2% are extended into the lower hopper Ziil so that material discharged into this latter hopper will be elevated and discharged into the hopper 95. A right angularly disposed shaft 2&2 is jcurnalled in bearing members 283 and 294, which are fixed to the lower end of the elevator housing I92 and the shaft 202 has fixed thereto a bevelled gear 265 meshing with gear I98. The shaft 2B2 also has fixed thereto a sprocket 265 about which a chain 2&1 engages. The conveyor shaft IE4 at the end thereof opposite from the sprocket I75 has fixed thereto a sprocket 298. The chain 29'! engages about the sprocket 208 so that the elevator structure I942iiil will be operated simultaneously with the rotation of the shaft I66. The shaft I64 at its outer end may be journalled in a bearing 299 which is carried by the inner wall 2H3 of the elevator housing I92. The housing I 92 is fixedly secured to the end wall I45 of the hopper 95 by means of a pair of supporting brackets ZIil and 2! I.

The brackets 2m and ZII are of substantially U-shape and have one leg thereof secured by fastening devices 2I2 and 2I3 respectively to the end wall I45. The other legs of the brackets 2H) and 2 are secured as by fastening devices 2M and 2I5 to the inner wall 2W of the elevator housing I92.

In the use and operation of this retort chargin structure the frame structure I5 is adapted to be shifted to a position where the charging tubes I I8 and I39 are in confronting relation to a pair of retorts. The charging tubes or conveyor housings I I8 and I39 are adapted to be moved inwardly of the retorts by operation of the motor I I5, which is adapted to shift the carriage 88 to the right as viewed in Figure 1. The vertical position of the combined conveyor and charging tubes lit! and I39 may be adjusted by means of the motors 51 and 88. In practice the normal operating positions of the conveyor housings I i8 and I3 are the positions shown in the drawings in Figures 1 and 3. With the tubes H8 and I39 projected interiorly of the retorts, the conveyor members I25 and I56 may be operated so as to withdraw the material from the hopper and force this material into the retorts. As the material is packed within the retorts the carriage 88 will be moved to the left so that the conveyors and the conveyor housings will be forced outwardly of the retorts during the charging operation. As the conveyors I25 and I5ii are rotated so as to force the material lengthwise of the housings H8 and I39, the conveyors IBI and It! will simultaneously be rotated to discharge the material from the hopp r 95 into the conveyor housings H3 and I39. The hopper $5 is maintained in a filled condition at all times by operation of the elevator structure I9I, which operates simultaneously with the operation of the several conveyors.

The universal joints of the charger members are tightened so that they are frictionally held, and the sections of the charger members will remain in axial alignment until some pressure is brought to bear which will overcome the frictional grip of the universal joints at which time they will be forced out of axial alignment. This factor prevents breakage if some of the retorts are not in exact alignment.

With a retort charging structure as hereinbe fore described a pair of retorts may be charged in one operation and if more than two retorts are to be charged the vertically movable carriages 35 and 69 may be raised or lowered to the desired degree, so that the charging housings I I 3 and I39 will confront the desired retorts. During the time that the charging operation is taking place the elevator hoppe 2i I is adapted to receive the loose material from a supply source.

What I claim is:

1. In a retort charging machine a hopper, a plurality of superposed charger members directly communicating with said hopper, a support frame for said members, said hopper comprising a rectangular box-like construction having a flared open top and a centrally converging downwardly inclined bottom, a longitudinally extending casing located centrally of said bottom, a second longitudinally extending casing located parallel to and above said first named casing, and double opposed feed screws mounted in said casings and being adapted to feed material centrally of said casings to said charger members.

2. In a retort charging machine, a hopper, a pair of superposed charger members directly communicating with said hopper, one of said charger members passing through said hopper and the other of said charger members passing directly below said hopper, said hopper comprising a rectangular box-like construction having a flared open top and a centrally converging downwardly inclined bottom, a longitudinally extending casing located centrally of said bottom in communication with one of said charger members, a second longitudinally extending casing parallel to and above said first-named casing in communication with the other of said charger members, and a pair of double opposed feed screws mounted in said casings and being adapted to feed material centrally of said casings to said charger members.

3. In a retort charging machine of the type including a frame, a hopper mounted in the frame and means for moving the hopper horizontally with respect to the frame; a charger member comprising an elongated sectional tube extending from said hopper through said frame, a sectional screw mounted for rotation in said tube, a universal joint operatively connecting the sections of said screw and a universal joint operatively connecting the sections of said tube, said universal joints being positioned equidistant from the outer end of said charger member outwardly of said frame, said charger member having its outer section solely supported by said universal joints whereby said outer section of said charger member may be deflected by a misaligned retort.

4. In a retort charging machine, a frame, a sectional tube extending outwardly through said frame, a sectional screw conveyor extending through said tube, a universal joint in said screw, and a universal joint in said tube, said universal joints operatively connecting said sections of said tube and said screw outwardly of said frame, said universal joint of said screw having a concentric relation to the universal joint of said tube, said universal joints comprising the sole support of said outer sections of said tube and said screw and permitting said outer sections of said tube and said screw to be deflected by a misaligned retort.

5. In a retort charging machine, a frame, a sectionalcharger member comprising a plurality of tube members connected by a pair of universal joints and, a plurality of screw conveyor sections operatively connected by a pair of universal joints, each of said universal joints of said screw having a concentric relation with the universal joints of said tube, one of the universal joints of said tube being positioned within said frame and the other being positioned outside of said frame, said pairs of universal joints coacting to permit deflection of said chargers on entering a misaligned retort.

JESS E. SCOUTEN. 

